Ha! Ha! Ha!

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Ha! Ha! Ha! was the band's second album, still Ultravox! at the time, with an exclamation mark as a wink at Neu!. In 1977 the group was led by singer and writer John Foxx. It was released on 14 October 1977 on Island Records, accompanied by the single ROckWrok. It failed to chart, but the label kept believing in the group.

The first album was still strongly influenced by glam rock. This second one is closer to the emerging punk, with songs such as Fear in the Western World and While I'm Still Alive. At the same time, the band used a great deal of synthesizers and electronics for the first time, paid for with the money from the first record. The closing track Hiroshima Mon Amour, with a drum machine, points most clearly ahead to the later synth-pop and remains a favourite with fans and critics. It was the last album with guitarist Stevie Shears.

Listening

Track list

1. 1ROckWrok3:34Apple Music ↗
2. 2Frozen Ones4:07Apple Music ↗
3. 3Fear in the Western World4:00Apple Music ↗
4. 4Distant Smile5:21Apple Music ↗
5. 5The Man Who Dies Every Day4:11Apple Music ↗
6. 6Artificial Life4:58Apple Music ↗
7. 7While I'm Still Alive3:14Apple Music ↗
8. 8Hiroshima Mon Amour5:14Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

See also

• Ultravox